Belarus – Deterioration in the human rights situation (Jan. 27)

We wish to express our deep concern over the deterioration in the human rights situation in Belarus.

Since the summer of 2020, Belarusian society has experienced the most brutal crackdown the country has known in 31 years of independence. There are now more than 1,000 political prisoners in Belarus, some of whom were minors at the time of their incarceration.

These men and women who have been jailed for defending freedom are being held in unacceptable conditions, and many have been subjected to torture. As the foreign minister told the National Assembly on January 17, we have not forgotten them and we are monitoring their situation closely. At this difficult time, we stand with all the families and loved ones of the political prisoners held in Belarus.

We ask the Belarusian authorities to unconditionally and immediately release all individuals being held arbitrarily in Belarus.